CONTENT|CONTENU

TRAVEL REPORT
Poland

1. RECENT UPDATES

Section 10 has been updated (floods).

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2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

There is no Official Warning for this country.

Poland

Exercise normal security precautions

Exercise high degree of caution

Avoid non-essential travel

Avoid all travel

Canadians should exercise a high degree of caution. They should ensure that valuables, passports, and other travel documents are secure at all times.

Poland has recently experienced severe flooding. Canadians should keep informed of regional weather forecasts and local road conditions and plan accordingly.

OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: We offer a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency abroad, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home. Registration can be done on-line or by contacting a Canadian government office abroad. For more information, see our FAQs on Registration of Canadians Abroad.

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3. SAFETY AND SECURITY

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions.

Crime

The rate of violent crime in Poland is generally low. Petty crime such as pickpocketing and purse snatching occur, and organized groups of thieves still operate at major tourist destinations, on public transportation, at train stations, near hotels, and in busy markets. Thieves also target the bus and tram route to and from Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport. Larger cities in Poland have higher rates of petty crime.

Exercise caution on trains, particularly at night. Store personal belongings, passports, and all other travel documents in a safe place and do not leave the compartment unattended. Ensure the door is secured from the inside. Most pickpocketing on trains occurs during boarding; in the most common scenario, a group of well-dressed young men will surround a passenger in the narrow aisle of the train, jostling/pickpocketing him or her as they supposedly attempt to get around the passenger.

Be wary of taxi drivers who approach you at the airport or whose vehicles do not display telephone numbers and a company name; these drivers usually charge exorbitant rates. All registered taxis are required to operate a taxi meter.

General Safety Information

For emergency assistance, call 112 (if calling from a mobile phone), 997 for police, 999 for ambulance, or 998 for fire.

Youth gangs can be a threat, particularly in urban areas. There have been reports of individuals being harassed for reasons of race, sexual orientation, or because they appear to be foreign.

The loss or theft of a passport must be reported to the local police. A police report is required for the issuance of a new passport and the replacement of a Polish visa.

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4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS

It is the sole prerogative of each country or region to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries or regions have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties.

The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with the Polish authorities. However, these requirements are subject to change at any time. It is the traveller’s responsibility to check with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland and its consulates, for up-to-date information.

A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit Poland. The passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the date of your expected departure from Poland. Canadians must also be in possession of proof of sufficient funds for their stay and have travel/medical insurance.

Tourist Visa: Not required (for stays less than 90 days)*
Business Visa: Not required (for stays less than 90 days)
Student Visa: Required
Work Visa: Required

*The 90-day period starts upon the first entry into any country that is part of the Schengen area.

All visitors must complete and sign a customs declaration form upon arrival for all currency and valuables in excess of 10,000 euros. The form should be stamped by a customs official and retained by the traveller for presentation upon departure. Failure to do so may result in delays and/or confiscation of any undeclared cash and valuables.

Before leaving Poland, visitors should confirm whether they may leave the country with any works of art or antiquities that they purchased as there are export restrictions on items created before 1953.

Canadian citizens are allowed to stay in Poland for 90 days (within a 180-day period) without a tourist visa. Extension beyond 90 days is not possible. To stay longer, Canadians must apply for a temporary residence permit and have a valid reason for the extension, such as education or employment. For information, please consult the Office for Foreigners.

Dual nationality is not officially recognized, which may limit the ability of Canadian officials to provide consular services. Dual citizens can choose to enter Poland with a Polish or a Canadian passport. Entering on a Polish passport gives all the prerogatives of Polish citizenship. However, a valid Canadian passport should be carried as proof of Canadian citizenship to re-enter Canada. If dual citizens choose to enter Poland with a Canadian passport, they will have to comply with regulations applied to foreigners.

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Schengen Area

The member states of the European Union (EU) (not including Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania, and the United Kingdom), along with Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland (which are not in the EU), make up the Schengen Area, which has common rules regarding visas and controls at external borders.

The external land, air, and sea border controls of nine countries that joined the EU in 2004 (the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia) have been removed. Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania are not yet part of the Schengen area.

In the Schengen Area, Canadian travellers do not need visas for short-term visits (up to 90 days within a six-month period), but some countries require you to register with local authorities within three working days of your arrival. It is important to get your passport stamped when entering the Schengen Area. The absence of an entry stamp from the initial Schengen port of entry could create difficulties during subsequent encounters with local police or other authorities throughout the Schengen area.

If Canadians overstay the permitted 90 days in the Schengen Area, they may be fined or deported. To visit longer than 90 days, Canadians must either obtain a long-stay national visa or have been outside the Schengen Area for at least 90 consecutive days before re-entering.

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A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship is not a travel document. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians for the purpose of international travel. Canadian citizens returning to Canada who present other documents, such as a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, birth certificate, provincial driver’s licence, or foreign passport, instead of a Canadian passport, may face delays or be denied boarding by transport companies.

Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services.

Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify all visa requirements for this and other destinations, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders.

EU legislation on the amount of cash that can be carried was implemented on June 15, 2007. Canadians crossing one of the external border control points of the EU will have to make a declaration to customs upon entry or exit if they have at least 10,000 euros, or the equivalent in other currencies, in cash, cheques, money orders, traveller's cheques, or any other convertible assets in their possession. Failure to report such a sum will be considered an offence. This does not apply to Canadians travelling within the EU or in transit to a non-EU country. The purpose of this legislation is to prevent illegal activities, such as money laundering. For more information on the new EU legislation and links to EU countries' sites, consult the European Commission's website page on Cash controls.

Any adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights. Foreign and Canadian authorities may also require evidence that the adult has the consent of the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court to travel with the children. Some countries or regions may not permit children to enter or, in some cases, leave the country or region without proper documentation such as a letter of consent or a court order.

Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, many countries or regions do not recognize them. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. For more information, contact the foreign government office accredited to Canada.

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5. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS

You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information at the following address:

Poland - WARSAW, Embassy of Canada
Address: ul. Jana Matejki 1/5, 00-481, Warsaw, Poland
Tel.: 48 (22) 584-3100; recording after office hours
Emergency toll-free to Ottawa: 00-800-111-4319
Fax: 48 (22) 584-3101 or 48 (22) 584-3192
E-Mail: wsaw-cs@international.gc.ca
Internet: http://www.Poland.gc.ca

For emergency assistance after hours, call the Embassy of Canada in Warsaw and follow the instructions. You may also make a collect call to the Emergency Operations Centre in Ottawa at 613-996-8885.

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6. TRAVEL HEALTH

The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) report on disease outbreaks that occur throughout the world. For the latest travel health advisories and related information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Health Web site.

The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. Travellers are reminded to ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles) are up to date.

Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medications should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage.

The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada.

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7. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION

Satisfactory medical care is available in Poland. However, hospital facilities and nursing support may not be comparable to Canadian standards. Emergency services can be deficient in small towns and rural areas. Medical services in Poland require immediate payment. Medical invoices should be kept to obtain reimbursement through Canadian insurers.

There is a threat of water-borne diseases following flooding. Travellers should boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, and avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food.

Tick-borne encephalitis occurs in wooded areas from spring to autumn. If you plan to visit forested areas, you should seek advice regarding inoculations before leaving Canada.

See our Global Issues page for information on the H1N1 Flu Virus.

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8. LAWS AND CUSTOMS

You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons. However, Canada and Poland are signatories to the European Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, which enables a Canadian imprisoned in Poland to request to be transferred to Canada to complete the sentence in a Canadian prison. The transfer requires the agreement of both Canadian and Polish authorities.

As Poland does not allow its citizens to serve their sentences abroad, dual nationals may not receive the agreement of the Polish authorities to be transferred to a prison in Canada.

Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office (embassy, high commission, etc.) listed in Section 5 above. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request.

The procedures required in legal proceedings or police investigations may be different from the procedures in force in the Canadian legal system. Canadians wishing to undertake such proceedings can expect to face long delays and additional efforts in order to resolve their case. The Government of Canada cannot intervene in ongoing legal proceedings in other countries or regions, unless requested to do so by local authorities. Such requests are rare.

Dual nationality is not officially recognized, which may limit the ability of Canadian officials to provide consular services. Dual citizens can choose to enter Poland with a Polish or a Canadian passport. See Section 4 for information on documents required to re-enter Canada.

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9. TRAVEL AND CURRENCY

Tourist facilities are limited outside of major cities.

Poland has been improving its highway system, but roads outside of major centres are generally narrow, badly lit, crowded, and in poor condition. Driving can be hazardous with erratic aggressive drivers, and traffic congestion. The country's role as a major east-west route for transport trucks also poses risks. Horse-drawn and slow-moving agricultural vehicles are common in rural areas. Driving long distances at night should be avoided. Mobile phone users can dial 112 for roadside assistance.

Polish law provides virtually zero tolerance for driving under the influence of alcohol. The current legal limit is 0.02% blood alcohol level. Penalties for drunk driving include a heavy fine or imprisonment for up to two years.

The use of a mobile telephone while driving is prohibited.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is required.

See our FAQ on transportation in order to verify if national airlines meet safety standards.

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The currency is the zloty (PLN). Credit cards and debit cards are accepted. ABM services are continually expanding and are now available in all major cities and towns in Poland. Traveller's cheques are less common and often not accepted.

Check with your bank for information on automated banking machine (ABM) services outside Canada. You can also check the VISA ATM locator page or the MasterCard ATM locator page for the addresses of ABMs around the world. Verify with your financial institution whether your bank card can be used with ABMs abroad. Some countries use chip and/or personal identification number (PIN) technology for credit cards. Check with your bank to find out if your credit card will be accepted abroad. Credit cards and debit cards should be used with caution due to the potential for fraud and other criminal activity. ABMs should be used during business hours inside a bank, supermarket, or large commercial building. Leave copies of your card numbers with a family member in case of emergency.

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10. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE

Showers and thunderstorms are frequent during the summer, sometimes resulting in flooding.

Heavy rains, causing flooding, affected the region of Lower Silesia in south-western Poland on August 6 and 7, 2010. Hundreds of inhabitants of the towns of Bogatynia, Zgorzelec and Radomierzyce, close to the German border, have been evacuated. Canadians are advised to monitor regional weather forecasts, avoid affected areas and follow the advice of local authorities.

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11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The official and commonly spoken language in Poland is Polish. Services in English can generally be found at hotels, restaurants and shops in major tourist locations. French is not commonly spoken in Poland. Travellers may experience difficulties to obtain services in English or French outside major tourist destinations or tourist-oriented services. This is the case of many governmental services, including medical care, police services and public transportation.

Returning to Canada

Traveller's Checklist

Health and Travel Insurance: Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes.

Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller.

Adoption: Provincial and territorial authorities in Canada are responsible for authorizing international adoptions. If you are thinking of adopting a child abroad, you must first obtain information about the adoption regulations of the province or territory in which the child will reside. While adoption is a provincial/territorial responsibility, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. Entry can be refused if the child does not hold the appropriate immigrant visa. A visa may be denied, even if the adoption has already been completed. For more information contact CIC at 1 888 242-2100 (in Canada only), check the CIC Web site or contact your provincial or territorial government.

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12. ANNEX

N/A

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